Wed 13 Jun 2007
A Deaf community is like a cluster of grapes..all individuals delicious and precious by self, linked to one other by our being Deaf and using sign language and linked through the Deafhood vine thus linked to other Deaf communities elsewhere on the same vine.
There are also other vines with different kinds of grapes…like Deaf communities in other countries with different signed languages….we are however all in same vineyard.
Those who are Deaf but do not use sign language, or are not comfortable being Deaf…yes they are human…but Deafhood suggests they have a different identity…and that is of individual types of fruit or vegetable like cabbage…alone….yet precious in its own way.
Some people claim they are being rejected by the grapes, but in reality, they are simply different, most likely determined by Oralism. Yet we know that, by choice, they can become juicy grapes if they are willing to accept their new essence, their Deaf self.
But to expect them to be part of the grapevine as cabbages without becoming grapes…will be too weighty on the vine… hard on the grapes and on the cabbage itself.
(A very special thank you to LaRonda Zupp for collaborating on the photo development for this post.)
June 13th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
Ella,
It was a true pleasure working with you. It’s a beautiful and meaningful post. Thank you for letting me be a part.
Hugs.
~ LaRonda
June 13th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Beautifully and powerfully expressed!
June 13th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
Eloquence!
Wonderful way to describe the umbrella of Deaf world.
Love your contemplative expression along with sensational photos.
*hand-waving*
June 13th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Beautiful!!!
June 13th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
It seems like a good explanation, and it is beautifully illustrated. It takes many types of produce to be healthy, and a variety makes life interesting.
I must be a doughnut. (shakes his belly)
June 13th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Bill, haha. Hopefully a grape doughnut!?
LaRonda, again MANY MANY THANKS for the help and fun we had doing this. I also appreciate this new tool to enhance the v/blogsite.
June 13th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Eloquentally done! A masterpiece. The pictures are gorgeous, of professional grade, and the words interwined with each picture.
You are a true artist, Ella.
June 13th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Of course, the grapevine is full of interesting information. And that includes the HOH and late deafened, and the afterdeaf.
Richard
June 13th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Interesting choice of putting pictures together, it also made me hungry for fresh grapes! Ha!
Did you come up with this symbolism because of Martha’s Vineyard?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and pictures with us!
June 13th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Michele, aha! I didn’t even think of Martha’s Vineyard, but that’s a great addition! thanks.
Richard Roehm, may I suggest you read the last two paragraphs again and you tell me what you think they mean? Thanks.
June 13th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
What a beautiful illustration of Deafhood concept.
June 13th, 2007 at 7:33 pm
Ahh .. good ones. This explains very well! Diane
June 13th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
What poetic aspects of Deafhood! Concisely conveyed and well read! We must not forget the fact that there’s a parable of the grapevine that’s not useful and needs trimmed for the sake of healthy grapevine.
June 13th, 2007 at 11:16 pm
wowe1
you got so darn mellowed after years of of being so darn bold!
June 14th, 2007 at 5:09 am
What an elegant metaphor these photographs reflect the Deafhood!!! A healthy one, indeed!
June 14th, 2007 at 7:28 am
Aaah! new (old) artistic approach to Deafhood!
Last paragraph put “pained” touch on my heart…
Carl…we cannot trim the ‘infirm’ ones as the society usually take care of them, yes a burden!?
June 14th, 2007 at 8:50 am
Very poetic, Ella!
I do have a question though. You see Bill above? The guy who commented about being a doughnut?
He’s a hearing guy who I accidentally dragged in the deaf world. So my question is, where does he fit in? You and I are proud culturally Deaf, but what about those like him, who are learning and being supportive of us? Aren’t they an unique part of Deafhood too?
June 14th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
HI Ella, thank you for sharing a beautiful thoughts and ideas with me. I appreciate your briiliant art work wow … I know you do know alot about Deaf hood and ASL stuff more than I do… I am learning alot from you and other lately this year
keep this up take care KH
June 14th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
What another surprise~
June 14th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
A Deaf Pundit,
oh Bill a true business donut? not a grape donut?yummmmmm…. very delicious! I love real donuts (was not too sure about grape donuts, prefer chocolate covered ones, wink)
Anyway, reflecting on Deafhood the past 2 years, I have come to realize that the healthier Deaf people are with their Deafhood, the healthier their relationship will be with non-Deaf people. Therefore, Deafhood is GOOD for hearing people who associates with Deaf people. Deafhood promotes a fresh and new perspective on ourselves as Deaf people, for both us and non-Deaf people …Deafhood demands non-Deaf people to look at us as people with a purpose to exist on Earth, people with true language, yes a minority culture, but a people with right to dignity just like any other people, dignity in our language, in our culture, in our bodies. Deafhood challenges the system’s concept of disabiltiy and forces us to look at the current realities and the bigger picture for our future. Oh boy, you got me ranting more than I meant… guess time for me to think on how to discuss this more for future vlogs.
June 15th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Yes Deafness is good for us hearies, at least for those of us who are willing to learn. Before I took ASL with Ella I saw Deafness as a disability, and sign language as a coping skill. I not only learned about a culture and a language, I learned about the value of self-determination. I learned to drop my preconcieved ideas and to learn about people. I know this has helped me in so many ways, with people who’s culture is different than mine, or social, ecconomic statis, whatever the differences that separate us. I have learned to learn from others, I may not agree, but I can learn and understand, and therefor grow.
I love the anology of the grapes. I thought of another thing, no matter how hard you try, a grape is never going to taste like another fruit. So no matter how much hearing society tries to make Deaf people into hearing it isn’t going to work. That is my biggest complaint with the medical field, the education field, etc. They are telling hearing parents that they can make their deaf child “normal” but it just doesn’t work. It’s a load of bull. O.K. now I’m ranting. And I have rambled too long. Best go before you all kick me off this site.
June 16th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Kimberly,
May I suggest we choose “Deafhood” over “Deafness”? Maybe you have not heard about this term yet. It came from a book by Dr. Paddy Ladd, a Deaf fellow from Great Britian, called “Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search of Deafhood”. A very important and powerful concept. More later.
June 17th, 2007 at 3:42 am
This is truly beauty in culture and imagery and it cheered up my Sunday so much I have put it on the front page of http://www.veesee.co.uk. Do take a look and thank you for it.
Keep them coming!!!!
June 17th, 2007 at 9:14 am
ella
love the analogy u have drawn and the photos r GREAT
very visual and clear
i think the last line is a very important one – it is not good or healthy to try to coerce any individual to be something they r not
if a cabbage wishes to be a cabbage so be it
if grapes find it better to grow collectively in batches and to spread and gather as they go – so be it
Deafhood is a spiritual journey – not everyone will join the ride – it is her/his own choice
if they choose to join – welcome and we’ve missed u
if they choose not to – best wishes with all u pursue
re: Carl’s comment on the pruning of the grapevine’s parable – i do not know it well enough to fully comment but a question – does this parable serve to show G-d’s role in determining the good and the bad? the farmer knows and studies the vines and thus knows how to properly prune as to not cause damage
in the case of Deafhood since it is a spiritual journey – i hope i myself would never deem myself to be the farmer determining who to exclude and whom to welcome – if we believe in a creator they r better suited for such work than i.
again – im not familiar with that specific passage and might be confusing it with the fig tree or sowing of seeds on fertile ground parables in my mind – sorry for any mistake in advance
again ella – thanks for providing this “good food for the soul”
peace
patti
June 19th, 2007 at 9:27 am
Great pictures. I was thinking about cabbage and grapes and one thing that came to mind was that they grow at different planes and in different ways but both are good. Cabbage grow from the ground while grapes from vines.
Thanks for the food for thought.
June 20th, 2007 at 1:07 am
So if I just lose weight? Just kidding, I get it.
Thanks for such a personally helpful example!
Much to think about…
- Linda Slovick
June 20th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Linda Slovick,
A good start. I am curious to see how you will end this story spin-off. And it looks like a good exercise in communicating the various experiences/identity issues Deaf people have…by using stories…
June 30th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
(Hope you remember me — anthropologist from Chicago)
… How glad I am every time I see your postings!
Are blogs and vlogs a special part of the Deafhood vine? Seems like the greatest arbor possible!
And ASL essays? Essays like yours, and several others out there, will make “ASL Composition” courses possible in Deaf education — hopefully soon! (Or are they already?) These will make the Deafhood vineyard grow.
I’m sending you all my best wishes!
Frank
P.S. Not sure if you still have an email address. Would love to ask you an anthropology question about an ASL story, but should not clog your comments here. (Tried using the “contact” button at top of screen, but nothing happens — and my addresses for you [tmail, pacbell] are out of date.) Hope to reach you!
July 1st, 2007 at 8:36 pm
How Novelettish !
July 2nd, 2007 at 3:16 pm
I can’t believe that I missed this post.. Beautiful job-Ella!
I love how you used the art and use the pictures as allegory of Deafhood.
You keep on inspiring me. I am going to explode some day.. wink!
Aidan
August 19th, 2007 at 8:15 am
I’m not sure I would agree that Ladd’s conception of Deafhood would put those Deafies who are not comfortable with signing/oralist/etc. into a separate category from grapes. In my understanding, I think they’re still grapes, but maybe not whole grapes — perhaps grape jelly (squashed and made to conform to an image that they did not desire)? Remember, we are talking about the effects of colonialism/audism — this is the primary reason why those Deafies have rejected/never found Deaf Culture and we all struggle with our Deafhood.
–DonG.
August 19th, 2007 at 8:36 am
Good point, DonG! Yeah I like your version better! I did try to imply that the cabbages while precious as they are do have the choice to transform. But its weird and scientifically illogical. Urs makes it more possible thus more positive. Thanks!